Tiers for Fears: New Mexico United & the Underdog Switcheroo

New Mexico United go from favorites to underdogs in the Round of 32 – hoping to spark off a deep Open Cup run like the one they had in 2019 when they take on MLS’ Real Salt Lake.

Every knockout competition is about the matchup.

A team can be in the right form, cruising, but meet the wrong team at the wrong time and make a quick exit from the competition. It’s even more dangerous in a tournament – like our U.S. Open Cup – where clubs are coming from different leagues and different levels of competition.

Things get complicated quick when amateurs meet pros, whose day-job consists of playing the game, or when lower-level pro teams take on upper-tier opponents. “Pressure is always on against the lower division teams,” said Eric Quill, head coach of second-division USL Championship pros New Mexico United. “They come in with so much desire.”

First Favorites, Then Underdogs

In the Third Round of the US Open Cup, the New Mexicans entered against all-amateur underdogs the Lubbock Matadors of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). After a tough first half where neither team got a ball into the net, New Mexico United found a foothold and scored three goals in a frenzied four minutes early in the second half.

Going up by three meant they could cruise through the rest of the half. But Coach Quill acknowledged that the part-timers from Lubbock were up to the challenge. “There’s no such thing as an easy game. We don’t take any opponent lightly,” he said of a game that was both an opportunity and a potential embarrassment for the favorites from Albuquerque. “They had a lot of quality, some kids that could play.”

Midfielder Daniel Bruce was also eager to respect the amateur players that gave his pro side all they could handle for more than a full half of play. “A lot of those players are very good, technical players,” he said. “Don’t respect them and they’ll hurt you…I was really proud of our performance in that match.”

Getting the win against an underdog might be the expected result, but now New Mexico United transform – as if by Open Cup Magic – into the underdog themselves when they take on Real Salt Lake. It’s the nature of the competition and Quill is happy to wear the label. You can hear it in his voice as he looks ahead to the Round of 32 contest against the 2009 MLS Champions and 2013 Open Cup Runners-up.

Up Against MLS

“MLS sides are always heavy favorites,” the coach said. “The underdog is a title we’ll take. Knockout soccer is like nothing else. Mistakes are more magnified and the anxiety is higher. It’s win or go home.”

Bruce brings his experience from growing up in England to how he sees the Open Cup. “Growing up in Northern England, we love an underdog,” said the scorer of one of the best goals of the Third Round, a cheeky chip for NMU’s second against the Matadors. “Watching a competition that you’re not a part of, there’s something magical about an underdog winning.”

Of course, as a professional at a USL Championship club, Bruce understands the importance of playing the best competition. “Playing in [knockout] tournaments, it’s very different. You understand that to win trophies, you have to be the best. You want to prove that you’re the best, by beating the best teams.”